Showing papers by "Claudio Sica published in 2010"

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain Arising from Motor Vehicle Accidents: Efficacy of Interoceptive Exposure Plus Trauma-Related Exposure Therapy

Abstract: Preliminary data are presented on the pattern of treatment response of combining interoceptive exposure (IE) with trauma-related exposure therapy (TRE) in five female patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid chronic musculoskeletal pain originating from motor vehicle accidents. Treatment consisted of four sessions of IE followed by eight sessions of TRE. Four participants reported a reduction in PTSD symptoms after completing treatment, and three no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Although both interventions were associated with reductions in PTSD symptoms, TRE was associated with greater reductions in PTSD symptoms than IE and was particularly effective at reducing avoidance. IE was associated with larger reductions in anxiety sensitivity than TRE. Pain symptoms lessened slightly during IE and then worsened following TRE. Anxiety decreased after completing treatment, whereas panic and depressive symptoms responded less so. Three individuals completed a 3-month follow-up as...

Difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS): the italian translation and adaptation

Abstract: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is one of the tests used most frequently to assess the difficulties in emotion regulation in the adult population. The Italian version of the DERS was applied to 190 adults, and in addition, a subgroup (81 adults) compiled a series of parallel tests. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis did not confirm the original structure, while an exploratory factor analysis indicated six different dimensions of emotion regulation. The tool has good psychometric properties. The total score correlates positively with negative emotion and negatively with positive emotion. Trait anxiety was found to be associated with the DERS total score and with the scale of Distraction difficulties, while depression correlates with the total and with the scales relating to the difficulty in controlling impulses and accessing the emotion regulation strategies. In conclusion, the DERS can be considered a useful tool to measure the emotion regulation strategies also in the Italian context.

Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R): presentazione e indicazioni di utilizzo nel contesto italiano.

Abstract: This paper presents the Italian version of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), a self-report designed to measure the principal dimensions which characterize obsessive-compulsive disorder. The properties of the OCI-R are described after briefly illustrating the main points of strength and the limits of the current Italian tools. Guidelines are then provided to interpret the various scores which are obtained when using the questionnaire. With this contribution we hope to make available to professionals and researchers a useful tool to investigate and assess obsessive-compulsive phenomena.